In Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month
By Jae Spence, MHA | Mental Health Case Manager at Family Services of America
With contribution from the Family Services of America Team
Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to reflect, uplift, and advocate for practices that support emotional well-being. One powerful yet often underestimated tool in this journey is creative expression.
Our very own Jae Spence, Mental Health Case Manager and creator of therapeutic initiatives like Expression to End Depression and Can You Understand the Words Coming Out of My Mouth?, shares a moving testimony of how art has served as a bridge to healing for communities deeply affected by trauma.
“Creativity became more than an outlet it became a reminder that healing and hope still lived within them.” — Jae Spence
Jae’s work in Washington, D.C., illuminated a vital truth: you don’t need to be an artist to be expressive. In fact, some of the most healing moments come from raw, imperfect expression painting for peace, dancing to release stress, singing just to be heard, or journaling what the soul can’t speak aloud.
Why Creativity Matters for Mental Health
Creative expression taps into the emotional parts of our brain that talk therapy and medication may not always reach on their own. Whether it’s painting, music, dance, or drama, the arts help us:
- Process emotions without having to explain them
- Reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms
- Increase self-awareness and resilience
- Experience joy, freedom, and a sense of accomplishment
As Jae reminds us, “Creative expression is not just an activity, it is a lifeline.”
5 Creative Tools to Support Your Mental Health
Whether you’re navigating stress, recovering from trauma, or simply looking for emotional maintenance, try one of these creative practices this month:
🖌️ Draw or Color Freely
Let go of the outcome and let your hand move. Use colors that reflect your mood — no skill required, just intention.
🗣️ Sing or Speak Loudly
Hum, chant, or sing your favorite song. Vocalizing emotions — even loudly talking to yourself in a mirror can help you feel heard and seen.
📝 Write What You Feel
Journaling doesn’t need structure. Use your notebook to rant, dream, or simply describe your day. The act of writing brings clarity and emotional release.
💃🏾 Move Your Body
Dance in your room. Take a walk with music. Try stretching with intention. Movement is medicine it breaks emotional stagnation.
🎭 Roleplay or Act Out a Scenario
Try reenacting a past situation with a new, empowered ending. This simple drama technique can help you reframe trauma and reclaim control.
Mental Health Is a Creative Process
At Family Services of America, we believe healing doesn’t always happen in silence. Sometimes, it’s loud. It’s messy. It’s creative.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we challenge you to make space for creativity in your life. Whether you share your art or keep it private, your expression matters. You don’t need permission to begin — just the courage to try.
Stay creative. Stay expressive. Stay Gold.
— Jae Spence & the Family Services of America Team
For resources on coping skills or to join one of upcoming workshops, contact Family Services of America at www.familiesofusa.com.
